Poland can't rule Belarusian independent broadcasters
The Belarusian politicians that asked Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski to influence on the operation of the Poland-based radio stations that broadcast into Belarus and Belsat television channel, have approached the wrong address, says Mariusz Maszkiewicz, Director of the Eastern Europe Department at Poland's Foreign Ministry. Maszkiewicz: “I think this is the wrong address, because the ministry does not run radio and television stations. The ministry can't influence on the quality of the programming. They don't understand that it does not work this way".
Ihar Rynkevich, one of those who signed the letter to Warsaw, told the European Radio for Belarus about who else had signed the petition and explained that it was written with good intentions:
Rynkevich: “Initially, 5 signatures from the major political structures had been planned. Ales Mikhalevich (Popular Front) and Zmitser Dashkevich (Youth Front) also signed. We suppor those media organizations. We would like to have a bigger impact on the Belarusian audience. In the case of Radio Racyja, their target audience is mainly the Belarusian minority in Poland”.
The politicians have proposed to set up an advisory board to monitor the operation of these broadcast media. “Periodically, we give interviews to these media organizations. Sometimes, we sacrifice our interests and the interests of our families. Unfortunately, we are unable to hear or watch ourselves on the airwaves", the letter said.
It also notes: “Unfortunately, the European Radio for Belarus has no FM frequencies. The radio has remained at the level of an web-based project for amateur students. Two years of ERB's operation have produced a zero effect”.
Dmitry Novikau, Director of the European Radio for Belarus, argues against such a statement:
“The European Radio for Belarus does broadcast on FM. Our rating today is the highest among foreign radio stations that broadcast into Belarus”.
However, on the other hand, Mr Novikau agrees that the time came long time ago to unite efforts at the information field of Belarus:
Novikau: “The European Radio for Belarus has approached colleagues for two years in order to put the best news programs from ERB, Racyja and Polonia on one antenna”.
Mariusz Maszkiewicz also says that there are some correct remarks in the letter. For example, independent broadcasters do not reach out to every household in Belarus. However, these issues should be handled by the management of the media organizations, not by the Polish foreign ministry.
At any rate, Ihar Rynkevich thinks that even if Poland can't help in this case, the letter has played a positive news-making role ahead of the parliamentary elections in Belarus:
“We are on the eve of the parliamentary campaign. I know that the authorities are preparing to crackdown on independent web resources. It will not make things worse if we draw attention of the public to these extremely important media that we respect".
Meanwhile, Zmitser Dashkevich told the European Radio for Belarus that some journalists are also associated with this letter. He is quite satisfied with the public respond in the internet to this matter.
“I know some journalists from Radio Racyja and ERB. We decided that such move could be made. Given the respond to this letter, I am confident that we made the right move”.
The European Radio for Belarus invites our listerners for a discussion. Please share your comments on how to make the operation of broadcast media in Belarus more efficient.
Listen to ERB on FM
Ihar Rynkevich, one of those who signed the letter to Warsaw, told the European Radio for Belarus about who else had signed the petition and explained that it was written with good intentions:
Rynkevich: “Initially, 5 signatures from the major political structures had been planned. Ales Mikhalevich (Popular Front) and Zmitser Dashkevich (Youth Front) also signed. We suppor those media organizations. We would like to have a bigger impact on the Belarusian audience. In the case of Radio Racyja, their target audience is mainly the Belarusian minority in Poland”.
The politicians have proposed to set up an advisory board to monitor the operation of these broadcast media. “Periodically, we give interviews to these media organizations. Sometimes, we sacrifice our interests and the interests of our families. Unfortunately, we are unable to hear or watch ourselves on the airwaves", the letter said.
It also notes: “Unfortunately, the European Radio for Belarus has no FM frequencies. The radio has remained at the level of an web-based project for amateur students. Two years of ERB's operation have produced a zero effect”.
Dmitry Novikau, Director of the European Radio for Belarus, argues against such a statement:
“The European Radio for Belarus does broadcast on FM. Our rating today is the highest among foreign radio stations that broadcast into Belarus”.
However, on the other hand, Mr Novikau agrees that the time came long time ago to unite efforts at the information field of Belarus:
Novikau: “The European Radio for Belarus has approached colleagues for two years in order to put the best news programs from ERB, Racyja and Polonia on one antenna”.
Mariusz Maszkiewicz also says that there are some correct remarks in the letter. For example, independent broadcasters do not reach out to every household in Belarus. However, these issues should be handled by the management of the media organizations, not by the Polish foreign ministry.
At any rate, Ihar Rynkevich thinks that even if Poland can't help in this case, the letter has played a positive news-making role ahead of the parliamentary elections in Belarus:
“We are on the eve of the parliamentary campaign. I know that the authorities are preparing to crackdown on independent web resources. It will not make things worse if we draw attention of the public to these extremely important media that we respect".
Meanwhile, Zmitser Dashkevich told the European Radio for Belarus that some journalists are also associated with this letter. He is quite satisfied with the public respond in the internet to this matter.
“I know some journalists from Radio Racyja and ERB. We decided that such move could be made. Given the respond to this letter, I am confident that we made the right move”.
The European Radio for Belarus invites our listerners for a discussion. Please share your comments on how to make the operation of broadcast media in Belarus more efficient.
Listen to ERB on FM
